The home of the Utah Jazz (NBA) has a new moniker, as naming rights to the former EnergySolutions Arena were purchased by Utah tech firm Vivint, resulting in Vivint Smart Home Arena for the 2015-2016 season and beyond.
The announcement was made today by Larry H. Miller Sports & Entertainment (LHMSE). Terms of the 10-year naming-rights deal were not released.
“The Utah Jazz and the arena are proud to have Vivint as our new naming rights partner,” said LHMSE President Steve Starks. “Vivint is a long-time supporter of the Jazz, is a Utah-based company, and has a deep commitment to the community and our fans. These were all qualities we looked for when we began this process.”
Headquartered in Provo, Utah, Vivint creates smart home and security products and services. With Vivint, homeowners can automate, control, and monitor their homes from any smart device. Vivint has more than one million customers and 8,000 employees throughout the United States and Canada. Forbes recently named the company to its list of “America’s Best Employers.”
“The Utah Jazz and the arena have been an incredible economic engine for this region, and have created a tremendous sense of pride among Utahns,” said Todd Pedersen, CEO of Vivint. “This agreement extends far beyond a typical ‘logo-on-the-building’ arrangement – it’s a true partnership built around innovation, community impact and the drive to elevate the prominence of Utah.”
“I am really pleased about this association between two Utah businesses,” said Gail Miller, owner of the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies. “Vivint shares our vision of having the arena be a gathering place for our community where millions of visitors can enjoy the Jazz and other first-class entertainment. I also want to thank EnergySolutions for their past contributions and continued support of our company and the Jazz.”
The deal is billed as more than just a naming-rights deal: it’s billed as a extensive marketing agreement that includes interactive “Vivint Smart Home Experience” on the arena concourse, advice on improving the game night fan experience, and upgrading security and automation technology at the basketball facilities.
The name change, effective immediately, will be visible throughout the facility, with Vivint Smart Home Arena being prominent on the exterior of the building, the lower panels of the center hung scoreboard, all digital building signage and on the Utah Jazz basketball court. The venue’s naming transition to Vivint Smart Home Arena will occur throughout the end of 2015 as the building hosts marquee events beginning with the Garth Brooks World Tour on Oct. 29-31 and the Jazz home opener on Nov. 4.
This is the third naming-rights deal for the arena, which opened as the Delta Center on Oct. 7, 1991. It was renamed EnergySolutions Arena on Nov. 20, 2006.
Renderings courtesy Utah Jazz.
